Pakistani hockey legend Manzoor Junior passes away

Former forward was considered hero of 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, leading country to gold

One of Pakistan’s field hockey legend Manzoor Hussain Junior passed away on Monday due to a heart attack.

According to his son Faisal, Manzoor was taken to the hospital on Monday morning and the doctors tried to save him by putting three stents in his heart to save his life, however, they were unsuccessful in saving him.

Currently, Manzoor was serving as the chairman of national selection committee.

Manzoor was a former Pakistan hockey team captain, an Olympian and also the hero for Pakistan in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

It was also under Manzoor that Pakistan won their only Junior World Cup in 1979.

He scored 86 goals in 175 outings for Pakistan and was considered one of the best forward between 1975 and 1984, his prime years.

Manzoor first won a bronze medal with Pakistan at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Later, in 1984 he led the team to a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Manzoor was also part of the team when Pakistan won the field hockey World Cups in 1978 and 1982. One of the most remarkable moments of his career came when he dodged six German defenders to score a goal in the 1982 field hockey World Cup final.

Manzoor, for his services to the game of hockey, was also awarded the Presidential Medal.

Condolences over the demise of Manzoor came from all quarters as President of Pakistan Hockey Federation Brigadier (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Secretary Haider Hussain expressed deep sorrow over his death.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his grief over the death of Manzoor.

“Gold medalist Manzoor Hussain Junior was an asset for the nation. His services for Pakistan Hockey will always be remembered,” said Shehbaz in a tweet.

Separately, COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa was sad on the demise of the hockey legend.

Remembering him as his ‘personal friend’, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said: “May Allah bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen.”